ENGLISH
REFERENCE

maestro

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈmaɪstɹoʊ// UK //mˈaɪstɹəʊ// mae·stro Slang

n. a person who is an expert at something, especially a famous conductor or a great musician. You use it to show respect for someone's high level of skill.

n. a distinguished conductor or performer of classical music; by extension, any person who demonstrates consummate mastery in a specific field. Often used as a title of respect.


SIMPLE

The maestro raised his baton and the orchestra began to play.

CONTEXTUAL

After decades of performing in the world's greatest concert halls, the maestro retired to teach a new generation of violinists.

COMPLEX

The documentary explores how the maestro transformed a struggling regional ensemble into a world-class orchestra through rigorous discipline and a revolutionary interpretation of the Romantic repertoire.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Italian maestro, from Latin magistrum (“master”). Doublet of magister, master, and meister.

Usage

Often used as a respectful form of address or a title before a surname.

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